Family

Most people would say that family is the most important thing to them. Family is the one and only thing I miss since I moved away.  My younger daughter has often said, “If we could just move our (extended) family to Wisconsin, it would be perfect.”   The day before we moved, my mom and I spoke at length about missing each other. She comforted me by acknowledging that though we may see each other less often, the time we would spend together would be more special and not taken for granted.

In the next few weeks we are going to have different sets of family members staying with us. I am so excited and can’t wait. My sister Cathy and her husband Scott will stay for the weekend and leave their girls for their traditional spring break at Untah’s Farm.  If memory serves me right this will be the first week they spend without their parents or grandmother. I love when Ellie and Maddie come to the farm.  They are so full of life and excitement.  They bring fun into doing chores and remind me of the innocence of working the land and caring for animals. When we go for walks they ask such interesting questions and observe the smallest details of nature.



Maddie, Ellie and Caroline in the garden last fall.



Last summer, Ellie and I took an    ATV ride to the top of the ridge and looked around.  Ellie shares my joy and awe of the landscape. We could see farms and trees and fields for miles. She told me this is where she was going to build her house. When I asked where my permanent house was going to go, she informed me that either I can stay in the mobile home or I could live with her. 

Maddie, Ellie’s younger sister always asks questions.  I was at a loss for words when we were tending to the chickens and she asked why the rooster liked to sit on top of the hens.  After a minute or two of stammering I suggested we involve her mother in this conversation.   On one of our treks down to the pond we stopped for a few minutes and just listened. I asked Maddie what she noticed. I expected her to comment on the cow mooing in the distance or the birds call to one another, but she noticed the bees humming as they made their way from wild flower to wild flower. We sat and had the most wonderful conversation about bees.  I was able to share my newly acquired knowledge of bees, and honey and pollination.  Maddie was most curious about why they sting and what she was going to share with her friends back home about the importance of bees in our world.  We were in the field for at least a half hour surrounded by dozens and dozens of bees and I am happy to report we never got stung!

My "baby"  Maggie is so grown up!

After Ellie and Maddie return home I’ll have just enough time to launder the linens and tidy up for my oldest daughter, Maggie’s visit.  I miss Maggie very much.  I respect she has her own life and did not grow up on the farm, so it would be difficult for her to pick up and move to the country, but I do wish it could happen.  Maggie is busy going to nursing school and working full time. When she comes to the farm I feel more joy then one can imagine.  For this trip, Maggie has asked me to show her how to cook and sew.  My baby is moving to her own place this summer. We are going to work on a shower curtain for her new bathroom and decorative pillows for her living room. I hope we will have time to make my famous Untah’s Farm Apple Bread.  My heart aches for days after Maggie leaves.

Then, the day after Maggie returns to Illinois, my Mom (Granny), sister in law (Lisa)  and her two youngest will come for a visit and celebrate Leander’s Sweet 16.  Caroline has been to the farm several times and enjoys the chickens.  She has mastered the call of the hens perfectly; “Oh laaadies” and the hens come running.  Caroline would collect eggs all day if she could.  Her younger brother, Richie has not been to the farm since he was a baby. Though he is only 3 I am looking forward to showing him the barn, woods and ATV.   I pray the weather is nice and he can run through the yard and fields.  

Of course there will be much celebrating and feasting; laughing and hugging.  Everyone loves the freshly laid eggs and comments on the deep yellow/orange yolks.  I have homemade raspberry jam for Lisa’s bagels. Canned apple sauce and green beans from last fall’s crop will accompany locally raised, grass fed beef for dinner. Perhaps a bottle or two of local wine will be consumed with the artesian goat cheese made just a few miles away.



The most wonderful women I know.
Next to me is my Aunt Patsy,Cathy, Granny, and Lisa



When all the entertaining is done and the house is cleaned up I will begin planning for the next time my family can come to Untah’s Farm.